so when a deal is struck with ukraine and russia, it has no impact on the ground here. these residents are saying, nobody is negotiating with us so we are just protecting our own state. >> well, you tweeted shortly after your release, taken hostage by self-defense forces. what are self-defense forces? >> reporter: that's what they call themselves. they are the guys who are protecting [ indiscernible ] in the [ indiscernible ] region in this part of ukraine and they are the ones who have taken it upon themselves like some of the people in crimea to become the new patrolling force out here and what they say seems to go. >> and what is next for you, erin? are you coming home? are you going back to work? are you going to take a few days off? and where are you right now? >> reporter: we're back in donesk in our hotel. we'll talk about the next stems. we'll stay and cover the referendum in a couple of weeks and see where it goes. you know, we didn't make any decisions today that were dangerous. we made normal decisions. we just happened upon an unlucky situation. so it will m